α-1,3 fucosyltransferases and expression systems for making and expressing them

ABSTRACT

A bacterial α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene and deduced amino acid sequence is provided. The gene is useful for preparing α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide, and active fragment thereof, which can be used in the production of oligosaccharides such as Lewis X, Lewis Y, and siayl Lewis X, which are structurally similar to certain tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens found in mammals. These product glycoconjugates also have research and diagnostic utility in the development of assays to detect mammalian tumors. In addition the polypeptide of the invention can be used to develop diagnostic and research assays to determine the presence of  H. pylori  in human specimens.

This application is a divisional of and, therefore, claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/120,319, filed Apr. 9, 2002, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/733,524, filed Dec. 7, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,534,298; both of which claim priority, as a continuation and divisional application, respectively, of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/092,315, filed Jun. 5, 1998, issued on Jun. 4, 2002, as U.S. Pat. No. 6,399,337; which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/048,857, filed Jun. 6, 1997. All applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of α1,3-fucosyltransferases and, more specifically, to α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides which are transmembrane segment-free.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Helicobacter pylori is an important human pathogen which causes both gastric and duodenal ulcers and has also been associated with gastric cancer and lymphoma. This microorganism has been shown to express cell surface glycoconjugates including Lewis X, Lewis Y, and sialyl Lewis X. These bacterial oligosaccharides are structurally similar to tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens found in mammals.

The presence of H. pylori isolate has been associated with an increased risk for development of gastric cancer (Wirth, H.-P., Yang, M., Karita, M., and Blaser, M. J. (1996) Infect. Immun. 64, 4598-4605). This pathogen is highly adapted to colonize human gastric mucosa and may remain in the stomach with or without causing symptoms for many years. Although H. pylori elicits local as well as systemic antibody responses, it escapes elimination by the host immune response due to its sequestered habitation within human gastric mucosa. Another mechanism by which H. pylori may protect itself from the action of the host immune response is the production of surface antigens mimicking those in the host.

In mammalian cells the enzyme α(1,3/1,4)-fucosyltransferase (namely FucT) catalyzes the last step in the synthesis of two carbohydrate structures, Galβ 1-4[Fucα1-3] GlcNAc (Lewis X, Le^(x) for short) or NeuAcα2-3-Galβ 1-4[Fucα1-3]GlcNAc (sialyl Lewis X, sLe^(x) for short). (Lowe et al., 1990, Cell 57: 475-484.; Kukowska-Latallo et al., 1990, Genes & Development 4:1288-1303.) Cell surface α(1,3)- and α(1,2)-fucosylated oligosaccharides, that is, Lewis X (Le^(x)), sialyl Lewis X (sLe^(x)) and Lewis Y (Le^(y)), are present on both eukaryotic and microbial cell surfaces. In mammals, Le^(x) is a stage-specific embryonic antigen, however, Le^(x), sLe^(x) and Le^(y) are also regarded as tumor-associated markers. The biological functions of these bacterial oligosaccharide structures are not fully understood. It has been suggested that such glycoconjugates produced by H. pylori, may mimic host cell antigens and could mask the bacterium from the host immune response. It is also possible that these bacterial Lewis antigens could down regulate the host T-cell response. Therefore, production of such antigens may contribute to colonization and long-term infection of the stomach by H. pylori.

Presently, use of carbohydrates as potential therapeutic drugs has become popular in the field of medical chemistry. In addition, qualitative and quantitative carbohydrates including Le^(x), Le^(y) and sLe^(x) are also required as reagents for assaying the enzymes which are involved in the biosynthesis of glycoconjugates in cells. Le^(x), Le^(y) and sLe^(x) products which are commercially available are chemically synthesized. However, synthesis of these products gives rise to several limitations such as time-consuming, complicated procedures and low yields. Although several mammalian fucosyltransferases have been cloned and expressed, enzymatic synthesis of Le^(x), Le^(y) and sLe^(x) products for a commercial purpose has not been reported.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the discovery of a novel α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide and gene which encodes the polypeptide. The present invention includes a novel nucleic acid sequence of α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide which is useful in the detection and synthesis of α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of using the novel α1,3-fucosyltransferase to synthesize oligosaccharides such as Le^(x), Le^(y) and sLe^(x).

In another embodiment the invention provides the novel polypeptide of α1,3-fucosyltransferase which is useful in the development of antibodies to α1,3-fucosyltransferase.

In another embodiment, the novel polypeptide of α1,3-fucosyltransferase has a carboxyl terminal ˜100 amino acids in length having therein a heptad repeat of X₁X₂LRX₃X₄Y, wherein X₁ is D or N; X₂ is D or N; X₃ is I, V or A; X₄ is N or D. In another embodiment, the α1,3-fucosyltransferase is a peptide selected from SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, and SEQ ID NO:3. In another embodiment the α1,3-fucosyltransferase may have a variable number of heptad repeats.

Further provided is a method for producing α1,3-fucosyltransferase. The method involves the step of culturing a gene expression system which comprises a host cell which has been recombinantly modified with a polynucleotide encoding α1,3-fucosyltransferase or a portion thereof and harvesting the α1,3-fucosyltransferase. A preferred embodiment of the method is directed to the use of the claimed genetic expression system which produces α1,3-fucosyltransferase.

These and many other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the Examples.

ABBREVIATIONS

The abbreviation used are: FucT, α1,3-fucosyltransferase unless specified otherwise; Le^(x), Lewis X; sLe^(x), sialyl-Lewis X; Le^(y), Lewis Y; nt, nucleotide (s); kb, kilobase (s); aa, amino acid (s); PCR, polymerase chain reaction; ORF, open reading frame; RSB, a ribosomal binding site; LPS, lipopolysaccharides; HD-Zip, homeodomain-leucine zipper; bZip, basic region-zipper; LacNAc—R, Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ-O—(CH₂)₈COOMe;Galβ1-3GlcNAc—R, Galβ1-3GlcNAcb-O—(CH²)⁸COOMe; LacNAc-TMR, Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ-O—(CH₂)₈CO—NHCH₂CH₂NH-TMR; Phenyl-Gal, phenyl-β-galactoside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Schematic representation of plasmid constructs containing an intact or partial HpfucT gene. Hatched arrow bars represent the H. pylori fucT genes, and the arrows point in the direction of the transcription orientation. T7 indicates the location of a T7 promoter. Restriction endonuclease sites used for subcloning are denoted. BA=BamHI; B=BglII; X=XmnI; H=HindIII; and E=EcoRI.

FIG. 2A-1 and FIG. 2A-2 show nucleotide (SEQ ID NO: 4) and deduced amino acid (SEQ ID NO:1) sequences of H. pylori fucT gene. Also shown are the nucleotide (SEQ ID NO:21) and deduced amino acid (SEQ ID NO:22) sequences of the C-terminal sequence of a putative glutamate dehydrogenase. A Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence, the Kozak's consensus context, putative −10 and −35 regions, an asymmetric inverted repeat and a putative transcription terminator are indicated in the nucleotide sequence. Putative asparagine-linked glycosylation sites are underlined in the amino acid sequence. Primers used for construction of pBKHp763fucT38 and pBKHp763fucT39 are located by arrow bars.

FIG. 2B is a hydropathy profile of HpFucT as predicted by the method of Kyte-Doolittle.

FIG. 3A-1 and FIG. 3A-2 show representative sequence alignment of the HpFucT (amino acid residues 1-372 of SEQ ID NO:1) with eukaryotic α-1,3-fucosyltransferases using the program of Pileup (the GCG package, version 8.0). BfucT3=bovine FucT III (SEQ ID NO:9); HfucT6=human FucT VI (SEQ ID NO:10); MfucT4=mouse FucT VI (SEQ ID NO:11); CfucT1=chicken FucT1 (SEQ ID NO:12). Underlined residues represent the proposed transmembrane segment within the respective FucTs. Identical residues within all the aligned proteins are denoted by both asterisks and bold type. Corresponding residues partially conserved by HpFucT and other FucTs are indicated by bold type alone.

FIG. 3B shows a sequence comparison of the direct repeat region of HpFucT (SEQ ID NO:14) with the leucine zipper motifs within the chicken EAP-300 protein, HD-Zip proteins, and bZip proteins. Conserved leucines among all the compared proteins are marked by asterisks and bold type. Degrees of sequence identity and similarity (including the conservative replacement) between HpFucT and ATHD-Zip proteins are given on the right in panel B. ATHD-Zip, Arabidoposis thaliana homeobox-leucine zipper proteins, ATHB-6 (SEQ ID NO:16) and ATHB-7 (SEQ ID NO:18); EAP-300 is a developmentally regulated embryonal protein (SEQ ID NOs:13 (top) and 15 (bottom)); TAF-1 (SEQ ID NO:19), is a tobacco transcription activator 1: CPRF1, (SEQ ID NO:20), is a common plant regulatory factor isolated from parsley; TodS, (SEQ ID NO:17), is a histidine kinase in Pseudomonas putida F1. Numbers in panels A and B indicate the aligned regions corresponding to the respective proteins.

FIG. 4 is a electrophoresis gel showing over expression of the H. pylori fucT gene in E. coli CSRDE3 cells. Equal amounts of the protein extracts as determined by the turbidity of the cultures were separated on a 13.5% polyacrylamide gel. Lane 1, pBKHp763fucT38; Lane 2, pBKHp763fucT39; Lane 3, pBluescript II KS-; Lane 4, no plasmid. The proteins bands of interest and molecular mass makers (BRL/Gibco) were indicated by arrow heads and lines on the left, respectively.

FIG. 5 shows graphical analysis of reaction mixtures containing the membrane fraction of cells harboring pBKHp763fucT39 by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection. FIG. 5A is an electropherogram showing the reaction product from an incubation containing LacNAc-TMR and GDP-fucose with the membrane extract from pBKHp763fucT39. Lewis X (Galβ1→4[Fucα1→3]GlcNAcβ-TMR) and GleNAcβ-TMR were formed and confirmed by both co-injection with standards and treatment with a-fucosidase. FIG. 5B is an electropherogram showing the reaction mixture obtained from a-fucosidase treatment containing Lewis-X-TMR with a 36% reduction in fluorescence signal. The GlcNAc-TMR peak also had a corresponding increase in intensity by 39%. FIG. 5C shows separation of nine standard TMR oligosaceharides found in mammalian metabolism, LacNAcβ- (1), Fucα1→2Galβ1→4GlcNAcβ- (2), Galβ1→4[Fucα1→3] GlcNAcβ- (3), Fucα1→2Galβ1→4[Fucα1→3]GlcNAcβ- (4), GlcNAcβ-, 5), linker arm- (6), NeuAcα2→6LacNAcβ- (7), NeuAcα2→3LacNAcβ- (8), NeuAcα2→3Galβ1→4 [Fucα1→3]GlcNAcβ-TMR (9).

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B show the amino acid sequence comparison among HpFuc-Ts from different H. pylori strains. HpFuc-Ts: 26695A (SEQ ID NO: 5) and 26695B (SEQ ID NO:6) from strain 26695; 1182 from UA1182 (SEQ ID NO:2), 763 (SEQ ID NO:7) from NCTC11639; 11637 (SEQ ID NO:8) from NCTC11637; and 802 from UA802 (SEQ ID NO:3). The position leading to the frameshift is indicated by a ↑.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel purified al α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides, polynucleotides which encode the a α1,3-fucosyltransferase, and the use of the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene and a α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides in the production of biologics and in the screening of biological tissues and fluids. The invention also relates to antibodies against α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides and their use in diagnosing disorders and in monitoring disease.

The α1,3-fucosyltransferase Polypeptide

The amino acid sequence encoded by the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene is shown in FIG. 2. In one embodiment, the α1,3-fucosyltransferase is transmembrane segment-free. The term “transmembrane segment-free” refers the absence of a transmembrane segment found in eukaryotic α1,3-fucosyltransferase. Absence of a transmembrane segment allows the α1,3-fucosyltransferase of the invention to be readily released from cells expressing the enzyme. Further, because the α1,3-fucosyltransferase are prokaryotically derived post-translational modifications are not made to the enzyme, unlike the eukaryotically expressed α1,3-fucosyltransferase.

Additionally, the α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide may be altered by addition or deletions of peptide sequences in order to modify its activity. For example, polypeptide sequences may be fused to the α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide in order to effectuate additional enzymatic activity. Alternatively, amino acids may be deleted to remove or modify the activity of the protein. The protein may be modified to lack α1,3-fucosyltransferase enzymatic activity but yet retain its structural three-dimensional structure. Such modification would be useful in the development of antibodies against α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide as described more fully below.

Another embodiment relates to the direct repeats of seven amino acid residues proximal to the C-terminus. These heptad repeats have the structure: X₁X₂LRX₃X₄Y, wherein X₁ and X₂ are independently D or N; X₃ is I, V or A; X₄ is N or D. The number of heptad repeats which potentially constitute a leucine zipper (L-Zip) may be varied (FIG. 6). Another embodiment is directed to the amino acid substitutions introduced into these heptad repeats.

In yet another embodiment, the invention includes aspects of the enzymatic activity of α1,3-fucosyltransferase, wherein the α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide lacks α1,4-fucosyltransferase or α1,2-fucosyltransferase activity or lacks both α1,2-fucosyltransferase and α1,4-fucosyltransferase activity.

The α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product may include those proteins encoded by the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene sequences described in the section below. Specifically, α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene products, sometimes referred to herein as “α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides”, may include α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product encoded by an α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene sequence shown in FIG. 2 and SEQ ID NO:4. Thus, the term “α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide” includes full length expression as well as polypeptides, such as smaller peptides, which retain a biological activity of the full length product, such as α1,3-fucosyltransferase activity.

In addition, α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene products may include proteins or polypeptides that represent functionally equivalent gene products, for example and not by way of limitation, the sequences of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO: 3. Such an equivalent α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product may contain deletions, additions or substitutions of amino acid residues within the amino acid sequence encoded by the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene sequences described above, but which results in a silent change, thus producing a functionally equivalent α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product. Amino acid substitutions may be made on the basis of similarity in polarity, charge, solubility, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, and/or the amphipathic nature of the residues involved.

For example, nonpolar (hydrophobic) amino acids include alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, proline, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and methionine; planar neutral amino acids include glycine, serine, threonine, cysteine, tyrosine, asparagine, and glutamine; positively charged (basic) amino acids include arginine, lysine, and histidine; and negatively charged (acidic) amino acids include aspartic acid and glutamic acid. “Functionally equivalent”, as utilized herein, refers to a polypeptide capable of exhibiting a substantially similar in vivo activity as the endogenous α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene products encoded by the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene sequences described above, as judged by any of a number of criteria, including but not limited to antigenicity, i.e., the ability to bind to an anti-α1,3-fucosyltransferase antibody, immunogenicity, i.e., the ability to generate an antibody which is capable of binding a α1,3-fucosyltransferase protein or polypeptide, as well as enzymatic activity.

A substantially purified α1,3-fucosyltransferase protein, polypeptide, and derivative (including a fragment) is substantially free of other proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and other biological materials with which it is naturally associated. For example, a substantially purified functional fragments of α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide can be at least 60%, by dry weight, the molecule of interest. One skilled in the art can purify functional fragment of α1,3-fucosyltransferase protein using standard protein purification methods and the purity of the polypeptides can be determined using standard methods including, e.g., polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (e.g., SDS-PAGE), column chromatography (e.g., high performance liquid chromatography), and amino-terminal amino acid sequence analysis.

Included within the scope of the invention are α1,3-fucosyltransferase proteins, polypeptides, and derivatives (including fragments) which are differentially modified during or after translation. Any of numerous chemical modifications may be carried out by known techniques, including but not limited to specific chemical cleavage by cyanogen bromide, trypsin, chymotrypsin, papain, V8 protease, NaBH₄; acetylation, formylation, oxidation, reduction; metabolic synthesis in the presence of tunicamycin; etc. Additionally, the composition of the invention may be conjugated to other molecules to increase their water-solubility (e.g., polyethylene glycol), half-life, or ability to bind targeted tissue.

Furthermore, nonclassical amino acids or chemical amino acid analogs can be introduced as a substitution or addition into the α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide sequence. Non-classical amino acids include, but are not limited to, the D-isomer of the common amino acids, α-amino isobutyric acid, 4-aminobutyric acid, Abu, 2-amino butyric acid, γ-Abu, epsilon-Ahx, 6-amino hexanoic acid, Aib, 2-amino isobutyric acid, 3-amino propionic acid, ornithine, norleucine, norvaline, hydroxyproline, sarcosine, citrulline, cysteic acid, t-butylglycine, t-butylalanine, phenylglycine, cyclohexylalanine, β-alanine, fluoro-amino acids, designer amino acids, such as β-methyl amino acids, α-methyl amino acids, Nα-methyl amino acids, and amino acid analogs in general. Furthermore, the amino acid can be D (dextrorotary) or L (levorotary).

While random mutations can be made to α1,3-fucosyltransferase DNA (using random mutagenesis techniques known to those skilled in the art) and the resulting mutant α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides tested for activity, site-directed mutation of the α1,3-fucosyltransferase coding sequence can be engineered (using site-directed mutagenesis techniques well known to those skilled in the art) to create mutant α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides with increased functional characteristics.

Peptides corresponding to one or more domains of the α1,3-fucosyltransferase protein, truncated or deleted α1,3-fucosyltransferase proteins as well as fusion proteins in which the full length α1,3-fucosyltransferase proteins, polypeptides or derivatives (including fragments), or truncated α1,3-fucosyltransferase, is fused to an unrelated protein are also within the scope of the invention and can be designed on the basis of the α1,3-fucosyltransferase nucleotide and α1,3-fucosyltransferase amino acid sequences disclosed in this section and the section above. The fusion protein may also be engineered to contain a cleavage site located between a α1,3-fucosyltransferase sequence and the non-α1,3-fucosyltransferase protein sequence, so that the α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide may be cleaved away from the non-α1,3-fucosyltransferase moiety. Such fusion proteins or polypeptides include but are not limited to IgFc fusion which may stabilize the α1,3-fucosyltransferase protein in vivo; or fusion to an enzyme, fluorescent protein, or luminescent protein which provide a marker function.

The α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide may be produced by recombinant DNA technology using techniques well known in the art. Thus, methods for preparing the α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides of the invention by expressing nucleic acid containing α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene sequences are described herein. Method which are well known to those skilled in the art can be used to construct expression vectors containing α1,3-fucosyltransferase coding sequences and appropriate transcriptional translational control signals. These methods include, for example, in vitro recombinant DNA techniques, synthetic techniques, and in vivo genetic recombination. See, for example, the techniques described in Sambrook et al., 1989, supra, and Ausubel et al., 1989, supra. Alternatively, RNA capable of encoding α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide may be chemically synthesized using, for example, synthesizers. See, for example, the techniques described in “Oligonucleotide Synthesis”, 1984, Gait, M. J. ed., IRL Press, Oxford, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The use of such synthetic peptide fragments of α1,3-fucosyltransferase for generating polyclonal antibodies is described below.

The α1,3-fucosyltransferase Gene

The α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene is a novel gene (FIG. 2) whose expression is found in H. pylori. Nucleic acid sequences of the identified α1,3-fucosyltransferase genes are described herein. As used herein, “α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene” refers to (a) a gene containing the DNA sequence shown in FIG. 2; (b) any DNA sequence that encodes the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2, SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 3; (c) any DNA sequence that hybridizes to the complement of the coding sequences shown in FIG. 2, SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 3 under stringent conditions, e.g., hybridization to filter-bound DNA in 0.5 M NaHPO₄, 7% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 1 mM EDTA at 65° C., and washing in 0.1×SSC/0.1% SDS at 68° C. (Ausubel F. M. et al., eds., 1989, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, Green Publishing Associates, Inc., and John Willey & Sons, Inc., New York, at p. 2.10.3) and encodes a gene product functionally equivalent to a gene product encoded by sequences shown in FIG. 2; and/or (d) any DNA sequence that hybridizes to the complement of the coding sequences disclosed herein (as shown in FIG. 2), under less stringent conditions, such as moderately stringent conditions, e.g., washing in 0.2% SSC/0.1% SDS at 42° C. (Ausubel et al., 1989, supra), and encodes a gene product functionally equivalent to a gene product encoded by sequences shown in FIG. 2.

The invention also includes nucleic acid molecules, preferably DNA molecules, that hybridize to, and are therefore the complements of, the DNA sequences (a) through (c), in the preceding paragraph. Such hybridization conditions may be highly stringent or less highly stringent, as described above. In instances wherein the nucleic acid molecules are deoxyoligonucleotides (“oligos”), highly stringent condition may refer, e.g., to washing in 6×SSC/0.05% sodium pyrophosphate at 37° C. (for 14-base oligos), 48° C. (for 17-base oligos), 55° C. (for 20-base oligos), and 60° C. (for 23-base oligos). These nucleic acid molecules may act at α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene regulation and/or as antisense primers in amplification reactions of α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene nucleic acid sequences. Further, such sequences may be used as part of ribozyme and/or triple helix sequences, also useful for α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene regulation. Still further, such molecules may be used as components of diagnostic methods whereby the presence of a pathogen or metastatic tumor cell may be detected.

The invention also encompasses (a) DNA vectors that contain any of the foregoing coding sequences and/or their complements (i.e., antisense); (b) DNA expression vectors that contain any of the foregoing coding sequences operatively associated with a regulatory element that directs the expression of the coding sequences; and (c) genetically engineered host cells that contain any of the foregoing coding sequences operatively associated with a regulatory element that directs the expression of the coding sequences in the host cell. As used herein, regulatory elements include, but are not limited to, inducible and non-inducible promoters, enhancers, operators and other elements known to those skilled in the art that drive and regulate expression.

The invention includes fragments of any of the DNA sequences disclosed herein. Fragments of the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene corresponding to coding regions of particular domains, or in which one or more of the coding regions of the domains is deleted (e.g., the sequence encoding the c-terminal 101 amino acids as shown in FIG. 2), are especially useful. Such α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene fragments may encode truncated gene products that retain a biological activity of the full-length α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide, such as α1,3-fucosyltransferase activity or immunogenicity. The invention also includes mutant α1,3-fucosyltransferase genes encoding substitutions of amino acids as described below.

In addition to the gene sequences described above, homologs of such sequences, as may, for example, be present in other species, including humans, may be identified and may be readily isolated, without undue experimentation, by molecular biological techniques well known in the art. Further, there may exist genes at other genetic loci within the genome that encode proteins which have extensive homology to one or more domains of such gene products. These genes may also be identified via similar techniques.

The α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene and its homologs can be obtained from other organisms thought to contain α1,3-fucosyltransferase activity. For obtaining cDNA, tissues and cells in which α1,3-fucosyltransferase is expressed are optimal. Tissues which can provide a source of genetic material for α1,3-fucosyltransferase and its homologs, therefore, include intestinal mucosal cells and tumorigenic cells.

For example, the isolated α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene sequences may be labeled and used to screen a cDNA library constructed from mRNA obtained from the organism of interest. The hybridization conditions used should be of a lower stringency when the cDNA library is derived from an organism different from the type of organisms from which the labeled sequence was derived. Alternatively, the labeled fragment may be used to screen a genomic library derived from the organism of interest, again, using appropriately stringent condition. Low stringency conditions are well known in the art, and will vary predictably depending on the specific organism from which the library and the labeled sequences are derived. For guidance regarding such condition see, for example, Sambrook et al., 1989, Molecular Cloning, a Laboratory Manual, Cold Springs Harbor Press, N.Y; and Ausubel et al., 1989, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Green Publishing Associates and Wiley Interscience, N.Y

Further, a previously unknown α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene type sequence may be isolated by performing PCR using two degenerate oligonucleotide primer pools designed on the basis of amino acid sequence within the gene of interest. The template for the reaction may be cDNA obtained by reverse transcription of mRNA prepared from human or non-human cell lines or tissue known or suspected to express a α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene.

The PCR product may be subcloned and sequenced to ensure that the amplified sequences represent the sequences of a α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene-like nucleic acids sequences. The PCR fragment may then be used to isolate a full length cDNA clone by a variety of methods. For example, the amplified fragment may be labeled and used to screen a bacteriophage cDNA library. Alternatively, the labeled fragment may be used to screen a genomic library.

PCR technology may also be utilized to isolate full length cDNA sequences. For example, RNA may be isolated, following standard procedures, from an appropriate cellular or tissue source. A reverse transcription reaction may be performed on the RNA using an oligonucleotide primer specific for the most 5′ end of the amplified fragment for the priming of first strand synthesis. The resulting RNA/DNA hybrid may then be “tailed” with guanidines using a standard terminal transferase reaction, the hybrid may be digested with RNAase H, and second strand synthesis may then be primed with a poly-C primer. Thus, cDNA sequences upstream of the amplified fragment may easily be isolated. For a review of cloning strategies which may be used, see e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989, supra.

In cases where the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene identified is the normal, or wild type, gene, this gene may be used to isolate mutant alleles of the gene. Mutant alleles may be isolated from individuals either known or proposed to have a genotype which contributes to intestinal mucosal disease and/or tumorigenicity. Mutant alleles and mutant allele products may then be utilized in the therapeutic and diagnostic systems described below.

A cDNA of the mutant gene may be isolated, for example by PCR. In this case, the first cDNA strand may be synthesized by hybridizing an oligo-dT oligonucleotide to mRNA isolated from tissue known or suspected to be expressed in an individual putatively carrying the mutant allele, and by extending the new strand with reverse transcriptase. The second strand of the cDNA is then synthesized using an oligonucleotide that hybridizes specifically the 5′ end of the normal gene. Using these primers, the product is then amplified via PCR, cloned into a suitable vector, and subjected to DNA sequences analysis through methods known in the art. By comparing the DNA sequence of the mutant gene to that of the normal gene, the mutation(s) responsible for the loss or alteration of function of the mutant gene product can be ascertained.

A variety of host-expression vector systems may be utilized to express the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene coding sequences of the invention. Such host-expression systems represent vehicles by which the coding sequences of interest may be produced and subsequently purified, but also represent cells which, when transformed or transfected with the appropriate nucleotide coding sequences, exhibit the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product of the invention in situ. These include but are not limited to microorganisms such as bacteria (e.g., E. coli, B. subtilis) transformed with recombinant bacteriophage DNA, plasmid DNA or cosmid DNA expression vectors containing α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product coding sequences; yeast (e.g. Saccharomyces, Pichia) transformed with recombinant yeast expression vectors containing the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product coding sequences; insect cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., baculovirus) containing the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product coding sequences; plant cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., cauliflower mosaic virus, CaMV; tobacco mosaic virus, TMV) or transformed with recombinant plasmid expression vectors (e.g., Ti plasmid) containing α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product coding sequences; or mammalian cell systems (e.g., COS, SHO, BHK, 293, 3T3) harboring recombinant expression constructs containing promoters derived from the genome of mammalian cells (e.g., metallothionein promoter) or from mammalian viruses (e.g., the adenovirus late promoter; the vaccinia virus 7.5K promoter).

In bacterial systems, a number of expression vectors may be advantageously selected depending upon the use intended for the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product being expressed. For example, when a large quantity of such a protein is to be produced, for the generation of pharmaceutical compositions of α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide or for raising antibodies to α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide, for example, vectors which direct the expression of high levels of fusion protein products that are readily purified may be desirable. Such vectors include, but are not limited to the E. coli expression vector pUR278 (Ruther et al., 1983, EMBO J. 2:1791), in which the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product coding sequence may be ligated individually into the vector in frame with the lac z coding region that a fusion protein is produced; pIN vectors (Inouye & Inouye, 1985, Nucleic Acids Res. 13:3101-3109); and the like. pGEX vectors may also be used to express foreign polypeptide as fusion proteins with glutathione S-transferase (GST). In general, such fusion proteins are soluble and can easily be purified from lysed cells by adsorption to glutathione-agarose beads followed by elution in the presence of free glutathione. The pGEX vectors are designed to include thrombin or factor Xa protease cleavage sites so that the cloned target gene product can be released from the GST moiety.

In an insect system, Autographa colifornica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) is used as a vector to express foreign genes. The virus grows in Spodoptera frugiperday cells. The α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene coding sequence may be cloned individually into non-essential regions (for example the polyhedrin gene) of the virus and placed under the control of an AcNPV promoter. Successful insertion of α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene coding sequence will result in inactivation of the polyhedrin gene and production of non-occluded recombinant virus. These recombinant viruses are then used to infect S. frugiperda cells in which the inserted gene is expressed.

In mammalian host cells, a number of viral-based expression systems may be utilized. In cases where an adenovirus is used as an expression vector, the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene coding sequence of interest may be ligated to an adenovirus transcription/translation control complex, e.g., the late promoter and tripartite leader sequence. This chimeric gene may then be inserted in the adenovirus genome by in vitro or in vivo recombination. Insertion in a non-essential region of the viral genome (e.g., region E1 or E3) will result in a recombinant virus that is viable and capable of expressing α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product in infected hosts (See Logan & Shenk, 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci, USA 81:3655-3659). Specific initiation signals may also be required for efficient translation of inserted α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product coding sequences. These signals include the ATG initiation codon and adjacent sequences. In cases where an entire α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene, including its own initiation codon and adjacent sequences, is inserted into the appropriate expression vector, no additional translation control signals may be needed. However, in cases where only a portion of the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene coding sequences is inserted, exogenous translational control signals, including, the ATG initiation codon must be provided.

Transfection via retroviral vectors, naked DNA methods and mechanical methods including micro injection and electroporation may be used to provide either stably transfected host cells (i.e., host cells that do not lose the exogenous DNA over time) or transient transfected host cells (i.e., host cells that lose the exogenous DNA during cell replication and growth).

An alternative fusion protein system allows for the ready purification of non-denatured fusion proteins expressed in human cell lines (Janknecht, et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:8972-8976). In this system, the gene of interest is subcloned into a vaccinia recombination plasmid such that the gene's open reading frame is translationally fused to an amino-terminal tag consisting of six histidine residues. Extracts from cell infected with recombinant vaccinia virus are loaded onto Ni²⁺ nitriloacetic acid-agarose columns and histidine-tagged proteins are selectively eluted with imidazole-containing buffers.

The α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene products can also be expressed in transgenic animals. Animals of any species, including, but not limited to, mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, pigs, micro-pigs, goats, and non-human primates may be used to generate α1,3-fucosyltransferase transgenic animals.

Expression Systems for α1,3-fucosyltransferase

The novel bacterial α1,3-fucosyltransferase encoded by the disclosed gene, and enzymatically active fragment thereof, can be used in the production of fucosylated oligosaccharides such as Lewis X, Lewis Y, and siayl Lewis X. These bacterial oligosaccharides are structurally similar to certain tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens found in mammals. These product glycoconjugates also have research and diagnostic utility in the development of assays to detect mammalian tumors.

The fucosylated oligosaccharides may be produced by any number of methods utilizing the methods and compositions described herein. Standard enzymology techniques well known in the art may be utilized to develop systems to provide fucosylated oligosaccharides (see for example the Methods in Enzymology, volume series published by Academic Press; and Tim Bugg, “An Introduction to Enzyme and Coenzyme Chemistry”, 1997, Blackwell Sciences, Inc.).

“Substrate”, as used herein, means any material or combinations of different materials, that may be acted upon by the polypeptide of the invention to give rise to fucosylated oligosaccharides, for example, and not by way of limitation, substrates may include LacNAc—R and GDP-fucose.

Cells containing and cell-free systems may be used to produce the fucosylated oligosaccharides of the present invention. Cells containing and cell-free systems will be better understood in the description and examples that follow. Such systems are useful in the development of fucosylated oligosaccharides.

The present invention provides a method for synthesizing fucosylated oligosaccharides by reacting substrates in the presence of α1,3-fucosyltransferase, capable of catalyzing the formation of the fucosylated oligosaccharides from the substrates.

The α1,3-fucosyltransferase may be used regardless of its origin as long as it is capable of producing the fucosylated oligosaccharides from the substrates. The source of the α1,3-fucosyltransferase may be derived according to the methods and compositions as described herein, for example, through protein purification from host cells transfected with an expression system as described more fully below.

The substrates are allowed to react with the α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide for a sufficient time and under sufficient conditions to allow formation of the enzymatic product, e.g. Le^(x), Le^(y) and sLe^(x). These conditions will vary depending upon the amounts and purity of the substrate and enzyme, whether the system is a cell-free or cellular based system. These variables will be easily adjusted by those skilled in the art. For example, the period of exposure of the enzyme to the substrate will be longer at lower temperatures, e.g., 4° C. rather than at higher temperatures. In the methods for synthesizing the fucosylated oligosaccharides there are no restriction in terms of the timing of the addition of the substrates. The ratios of the various substrates should be in equal proportions, i.e. 1:1. The ratios of the enzyme to the substrates may be varied depending upon the rate and quantity of fucosylated oligosaccharides desired.

The method of producing the fucosylated oligosaccharides may be carried out at temperatures of 4° C. to 60° C., more specifically at 20° C. to 45° C. Additionally, a number of buffers may be used, for example, and not by way of limitation, a buffer having a pH between 6.5 and 8.0, but more preferably at pH 7.5, and in the presence of 15-30 mM Mn²⁺ but more preferably at a 25 mM Mn²⁺ concentration. After a desired amount of fucosylated oligosaccharides are produced the α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide may be inactivated by heating, centrifugal separation, or the like. The resulting fucosylated oligosaccharides may be further purified by techniques known to those skilled in the art.

Cell containing systems for the synthesis of fucosylated oligosaccharides may include recombinantly modified host cells according to the methods described below or may be naturally occurring cells which express α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide or an enzymatically active portion thereof, so long as the cell is capable of catalyzing the synthesis of fucosylated oligosaccharides from substrates.

In the case of cell containing systems the host cell is contacted with the substrate, under conditions and for sufficient time to produce the oligosaccharide. The time and conditions will vary depending upon the host cell type and culture conditions and can be easily determined by those of skill in the art.

The invention provides a gene expression system for producing α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides. The gene expression system comprises a host cell which been modified with a polynucleotide encoding α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide or a portion thereof, as described above.

A preferred gene expression system of the invention involves host cell modified with a polynucleotide encoding α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide or a portion thereof.

The method involves culturing a gene expression system created according to the methods described above under conditions sufficient to produce the α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide. The gene expression system comprises a host cell which has been recombinantly modified with a polynucleotide encoding a α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide or a portion thereof.

The method is also directed to harvesting the α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide. A further step of the method involves substantially purifying the harvested α1,3-fucosyltransferase. The purified α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide may be used in the synthesis of fucosylated oligosaccharides or the preparation of antibodies as described above.

Specifically disclosed herein is a gene expression system recombinantly modified with a DNA sequence containing the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene. The sequence contains an open reading frame (ORF) of approximately 1211 base pairs which are transcribed into α1,3-fucosyltransferase product.

As used herein, the term “recombinantly modified” means introducing a polynucleotide encoding α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide into a living cell or gene expression system. Usually, the polynucleotide is present in a plasmid or other vector, although modification can also occur by uptake of free α1,3-fucosyltransferase polynucleotide or numerous other techniques known in the art.

As used herein, the term “gene expression system” means a living eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell into which a gene, whose product is to be expressed, has been introduced, as described above.

As used herein, the term “harvesting” means collecting or separating from the gene expression system the product produced by the inserted polynucleotide.

Polynucleotide sequences encoding α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides can be expressed by polynucleotide transfer into a suitable host cell.

“Host cells” are cells in which a vector can be propagated and its DNA expressed. A gene expression system is comprised of a host cell in which a vector was propagated and the vector's DNA expressed. The term “host cell” also includes any progeny of the subject host cell. It is understood that all progeny may not be identical to the parental cell since there may be mutations that occur during replication. However, such progeny are included when the term “host cell” is used. Host cells which are useful in the claimed gene expression system and the claimed method of producing α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide include bacterial cells, yeast cells fungal cells, plant cells and animal cells.

Methods of stable transfer, meaning that the foreign DNA is continuously maintained in the host, are known in the art. In the present invention, the α1,3-fucosyltransferase polynucleotide sequences may be inserted into a recombinant expression vector. The term “recombiant expression vector” refers to a plasmid, virus or other vehicle known in the art that has been manipulated by insertion or incorporation of the α1,3-fucosyltransferase genetic sequences. Such expression vectors contain a promoter sequence which facilitates the efficient transcription of the inserted genetic sequence of the host. The expression vector typically contains an origin of replication, a promoter, as well as specific genes which allow phenotypic selection of the transformed cells. Biologically functional viral and plasmid DNA vectors capable of expression and replication in a host are known in the art. Such vectors are used to incorporate DNA sequences of the invention.

The method of the invention produces α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide which are substantially pure. As used herein, the term “substantially pure” refers to a protein which is free of other proteins, lipids, carbohydrates or other materials with which it is naturally associated. One skilled in the art can purify α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide using standard techniques for protein purification including preparative chromatography and immunological separations involving monoclinal or polyclonal antibodies. For example, the substantially pure α1,3-fucosyltransferase protein will yield a single major band of approximately 52 kD on a non-reducing polyacrylamide gel. The purity of the α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide can also be determined by amino-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide include functional fragments of the polypeptide, as long as biological activity remains, such as α1,3-fucosyltransferase enzymatic activity. Accordingly, the invention includes a gene expression system and a method of producing α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide which produce smaller peptides containing the enzymatic activity of α1,3-fucosyltransferase.

Production of α1,3-fucosyltransferase. Production of α1,3-fucosyltransferase from the gene expression system of the invention is achieved by culturing a gene expression system comprising a host cell recombinantly modified with a polynucleotide encoding α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide or an enzymatically active portion thereof and harvesting the α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide. The method further comprises substantially purifying the harvested α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide using protein purification protocols well known in the art (Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Chapter 10, eds. Ausubel, F. M. et al., 1994).

The method for producing α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide involves culturing the gene expression system of the invention under conditions of continuous culture, such as, but not restricted to, “fed-batch cultures” or continuous perfusion cultures. Other continuous culture systems which find use in the present invention is set forth in Wang, G. et al. Cytotechnology 9:41-49, 1992; Kadouri, A. et al. Advances in Animal Cell Biology and Technology for Bioprocesses, pp. 327-330, Courier International, Ltd., 1989; Spier, R. E. et al. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 18:649-57, 1976.

TABLE 1 Enzyme activity of the H. pylori FucT produced in E. coli CSRDE3 cells with an acceptor LacNAc-R Activity Specific Relative Sample^(a) (mU)^(b) activity^(c) activity^(d) BKHp763fucT38 cytoplasm 0 0  0 membrane 0 0  0 pBKHp763fucT39 cytoplasm 0.6 0.026 15% membrane 3.4 0.62 85% membrane + 4.3 0.77 — Triton X-100 ^(a)Membrane and cytoplasmic fractions were prepared from cells grown in 300 ml LB broth as described under Experimental Procedures. ^(b)A milliunit of enzyme activity is expressed as the amount of the enzyme fraction which catalyzes the conversion of one nanomole of acceptor to product per minute. Numbers represent total mU obtained from each enzyme fraction. ^(c)mU per mg protein. ^(d)One hundred percent activity is total mU obtained from both the cytoplasmic and membrane fractions.

Antibodies to α1,3-fucosyltransferase Proteins

Antibodies that define the α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product are within the scope of this invention, and include antibodies capable of specifically recognizing one or more α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product epitopes. Such antibodies may include, but are not limited to, polyclonal antibodies, monoclinal antibodies, humanized or chimeric antibodies, single chain antibodies, Fab fragments, F(ab′)₂ fragments, fragments produced by a Fab expression library, anti-idiotypic (anti-Id) antibodies, and epitope-binding fragments of any of the above. Such antibodies may be used, for example, in the detection of α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product in a biological sample, including, but not limited to, blood, plasma, and serum. Alternatively, the antibodies may be used as a method for the inhibition of abnormal α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product activity. Thus, such antibodies may be utilized as part of treatment for intestinal mucosal disease, and may be used as part of diagnostic techniques whereby patients may be tested for abnormal levels of α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene products, or for the presence of abnormal forms of such proteins.

For the production of antibodies against a α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product, various host animals may be immunized by injection with a α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product, or a portion thereof. Such host animals may include but are not limited to rabbits, mice, and rats, to name but a few. Various adjuvants may be used to increase the immunological response, depending on the host species, including but not limited to Freund's (complete and incomplete), mineral gels such as aluminum hydroxide, surface active substances such as lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsion, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, dinitrophenol, and potentially useful human adjuvants such as BCG, interferon and other cytokines effecting immunological response.

Polyclonal antibodies are a heterogenous population of antibody molecules derived from the sera of animals immunized with an antigen, such as a α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product, or an antigenic functional derivative thereof. In general, for the production of polyclonal antibodies, host animals such as those described above, may be immunized by injection with α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene product supplemented with adjuvants as also described above.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which are homogenous population of antibodies to a particular antigen, may be obtained by any technique which provides for the production of antibody molecules by continuous cell lines in culture. These techniques include, but are not limited to, the hybridoma technique of Kohler and Milstein, (1975, Nature 256:495-497; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,110), human B-cell hybridoma technique (Kosbor et al., 1983, Immunology Today 4:72; Cole et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:2026-2030), and the EBV-hybridoma technique (Cole et al., 1985, Monoclinal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, Inc., pp. 77-96). Such antibodies may be of any immunoglobulin class including IgG, IgM, IgE, IgA, IgD and any subclass thereof. The hybridoma producing the mAb of this invention may be cultivated in vitro or in vivo. Production of high titers of mAbs in vivo makes this the presently preferred method of production.

In addition, techniques developed for the production of “chimeric antibodies” (Morrison et al., 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 81:6851-6855; Neuberger et al., 1984, Nature, 312:604-608; Takeda et al., 1985, Nature, 314:452-454) by splicing the genes from a mouse antibody molecule of appropriate antigen specificity together with genes from a human antibody molecule of appropriate biological activity can be used. A chimeric antibody is molecule in which different portions are derived from different animal species, such as those having a variable region derived from a murine mAb and a human immunoglobulin constant region.

Alternatively, techniques described for the production of single chain antibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778; Bird, 1988, Science 242:423-426; Huston et al., 1988, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883; and Ward et al., 1989, Nature 334:544-546) can be adapted to produce single chain antibodies against α1,3-fucosyltransferase gene products. Single chain antibodies are formed by linking the heavy and light chain fragments of the Fv region via an amino acid bridge, resulting in a single chain polypeptide.

Antibody fragments which recognize specific epitopes may be generated by known techniques. For example, such fragments include but are not limited to: the F(ab′)2 fragments which can be produced by pepsin digestion of the antibody molecule and the Fab fragments which can be generated by reducing the disulfide bridges of the F(ab′)₂ fragments. Alternatively, Fab expression libraries may be constructed to allow rapid and easy identification of monoclinal Fab fragments with the desired specificity.

Methods of Detecting α1,3-fucosyltransferase in Biological Samples

The antibodies described above can be used in the detection of α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides in biological samples. α1,3-Fucosyltransferase polypeptide from blood or other tissue or cell type may be easily isolated using techniques which are well known to those of skill in the art. The protein isolation methods employed herein may, for example, be such as those described in Harlow and Lane (Harlow, E. and Lane, D., 1988, “Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual”, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Preferred diagnostic method for the detection of wild type or mutant α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides may involve, for example, immunoassays wherein α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides are detected by their interaction with an anti-α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide specific antibody.

For example, antibodies, or fragments of antibodies, such as those described above, useful in the present invention may be used to quantitatively or qualitatively detect the presence of wild type or mutant α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides. This can be accomplished, for example, by immunofluorescence techniques employing a fluorescently labeled antibody coupled with light microscopic, flow cytometric, or fluorimetric detection. Such techniques are especially preferred if the α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides are expressed on the cell surface.

The antibodies (or fragments thereof) useful in the present invention may, additionally, be employed histologically, as in immunofluorescence or immunoelectron microscopy, for in situ detection of α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides. In situ detection may be accomplished by removing a histological specimen from a patient, and applying thereto a labeled antibody of the present invention. The antibody (or fragment) is preferably applied by overlaying the labeled antibody (or fragment) onto a biological sample. Through the use of such a procedure, it is possible to determine not only the presence of the α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide, but also its distribution in the examined tissue. Using the present invention, those skill in the art will readily perceive that any of a wide variety of histological methods (such as staining procedures) can be modified in order to achieve such in situ detection.

Immunoassays for wild type or mutant α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides typically comprise incubating a biological sample, such as a biological fluid, including but not limited to blood, plasma, or blood serum, a tissue extract, freshly harvested cells, or cells which have been incubate in tissue culture, in the presence of a detectably labeled antibody capable of identifying α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides, and detecting the bound antibody by any of a number of techniques well known in the art.

Detection may also be accomplished using any of a variety of other immunoassays. For example, by radioactively labeling the antibody or antibody fragments, it is possible to detect wild type or mutant α1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptides through the use of radioimmunoassays (RIA) (see, for example, Weintraub, Principles of Radioimmunoassays, Seventh Training Course on Radioligand Assay Techniques, The Endocrine Society, March, 1986, which is incorporated by reference herein). The radioactive isotope can be detected by such means as the use of a gamma counter or a scintillation counter or by autoradiography.

It is also possible to label the antibody with a fluorescent compound such fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodomine, phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, allophycocyanin and fluorescamine.

The antibody can also be detectably labeled using fluorescence emitting metals such as ¹⁵²Eu. Additionally the antibody may be detected by coupling it to a chemiluminescent compound such as luminol, isoluminol, theramatic acreidinium ester and oxalate ester.

The following examples are intended to illustrate but not limit the invention. While they are typical, other procedures known to those skilled in the art may alternatively be used to illustrate the embodiments and methods of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Cloning of the H. pylori fucosyltransferase (fucT) gene To clone the fucosyltransferase gene from H. pylori NCTC11639, degenerate primers were generated from the several regions conserved by three mammalian α 1-3 fucosyltransferases, including human FucT VI, bovine FucT III and mouse FucT VI. Primer FUTF3 (5′TT[TC]TA[TC]CT[TCAG] GC[GATC]TT[TC]GA[AG]AA3′) (SEQ ID NO: 23) corresponds to residues 242-248 of human FucT VI, whereas primer FUCTR2 (5′AA[AG]TC[AG]TC[GATC]AC[AG]TG[GATC] AG[AG]AA3′) (SEQ ID NO: 24) is complementary to the sequence deduced from its residues 289-295. An expected DNA fragment of ˜170 nt was PCR-amplified from chromosomal DNA of H. pylori NCTC11639 with the primer pair of FUCTF3 and FUCTR2 under a thermocycling program of 40 cycles: for the first two cycles, 1 min at 94° C. 30 sec at 40° C. and 40 sec at 72° C.; for the remaining cycles. 1 min. at 94° C. 30 sec at 50° C. and 40 sec at 72° C. followed by extension at 72° C. for 10 min. The PCR products were cloned into vector pCRTMII (Invitrogen, San Diego. Calif.) according to the supplier's instructions. Subsequently, the inserts in recombinant plasmids were sequenced with Thermo sequenase, and their nucleotide sequences and deduced amino acid sequences were used in the search for related proteins in databases with the software program Blast included in the GCG package (Version 8.0. Genetic Computing Group. Inc., Madison. Wis.). A clone, designated pCRHpfucT3, was demonstrated to contain the insert encoding the amino acid sequence homologous to known mammalian α1,3-fucosyltransferases.

To clone a putative intact fucT gene from H. pylori, chromosomal DNA from H. pylori NCTC11639 was digested with restriction endonucleases, including Bg/II, EcoRI, BamHI, Bg/II-EcoRI, EcoRI-BamHI and Bg/II-BamHI, and then separated in a 1% agarose gel. DNA fragments containing the putative fucT gene were demonstrated by Southern hybridization with a [α-³²P]dCTP-labeled probe made from pCRHpfucT3 DNA. The 2.2-kb EcoRI-Bg/II and 4.5-kb EcoRI-BamHI fragments were cloned into vector pBluescript II KS-(Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) which was digested with EcoRI and BamHI. Two clones, pBKHpfucT8 carrying a 2.2-kb EcoRI-BgIII fragment and pBKHpfucT31 carrying a 4.5 kb EcoRI-BamHI, were selected for further characterization.

EXAMPLE 2

Plasmid constructs and Expression of the H. pylori fucT gene To construct recombinant plasmids containing an intact or partial H. pylori fucT gene, three primers were generated from the nucleotide sequence in FIG. 1: ZGE37 corresponding to nucleotides 1-19; ZGE38 and ZGE39 complementary to nucleotides 1215-1233 and 1660-1679 respectively. ZGE37 contained a BamHI site, whereas ZGE38 and ZGE39 contained an EcoRI site. PCR products were amplified from pBKHpfucT31 with a primer pair of either ZGE37/ZGE38 or ZGE37/ZGE39. These PCR-amplified DNA fragments were digested with EcoRI and BamHI, and then cloned into pBluescript II KS-(Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.). The respective clones containing the H. pylori fucT gene of interest were screened by PCR with the corresponding pair of the above primers. Two clones, designated pBKHp763fucT38 and pBKHp763fucT39, contained a partial and an intact H. pylori fucT gene respectively. The coding region of the H. pylori fucT gene was controlled under the T7 promoter. The sequence of the PCR-amplified DNA fragments in pBKHp763fucT38 and pBKHp763fucT39 was determined and demonstrated to be identical to that of the native template.

Recombinant plasmids pBKHp763fucT38 and pBKHp763fucT39 were introduced into E. coli CSRDE3 cells by electroporation. The proteins encoded by the recombinant plasmids were over expressed in the presence of either [³⁵S]methionine or cold methionine. The cells expressing [³⁵S]methionine-labeled proteins were boiled for 5 min in 1× sample buffer and separated in a 13.5% SDS-polyacrylamide gel.

EXAMPLE 3

Fucosyltransferase assays E. coli CSRDE3 cells expressing nonradioactively labeled proteins encoded by pBKHp763fucT38 and pBKHp763fucT39 were harvested and suspended in Hepes buffer (20 mM Hepes, pH 7.0) supplemented with 0.5 mM of phenylmethylsulfonic fluoride (a proteinase inhibitor). Subsequently, membrane and soluble fractions of the cells were prepared after disruption with a French press. The membrane pellets were resuspended in the same Hepes buffer, frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at −70° C. until use.

Assays of H. pylori α1,3 and α1,4 fucosyltransferase activities were conducted at 37° C. for 20 min in a volume of 20 μl containing either 720 μM LacNAc—R for α1,3-fucosyltransferase activity, Galβ1-3GlcNAc—R for α1,4-fucosyltransferase activity, or 5.33 mM Phenyl-Gal for α1,2-fucosyltransferase activity, 50 μM GDP-fucose, 100,000 d.p.m GDP-[³H]fucose, 20 mM Hepes buffer (pH 7.0), 20 mM MnCl₂, 0.2% BSA and 8.5 μl of the enzyme fraction. The incubation mixtures were loaded onto Sep-Pak Plus C-18 cartridges and the unreacted donor was removed by washing the cartridges with water. The reaction products were eluted from the cartridges with 4 ml of methanol, and radioactivity was counted in 10 ml of Ecolite (+) cocktail in a Beckman LS 1801 scintillation counter (Palcic, M. M., Venot, A. P., Ratcliffe, R. M., and Hindsaul, O. (1988) Carbohydr. Res. 190, 1-11).

Capillary electrophoresis assay The incubation mixtures contained 16 μl of the membrane fraction containing the intact HpFucT protein, 100 μM LacNAc-TMR, 100 μM GDP-fucose in a total volume of 20 μl of 20 mM Hepes (pH 7.0) containing 20 mM MnCl2 and 0.2% BSA. Incubation was done at 37° C. for 30 minutes. Subsequently, the sample was prepared and analyzed by capillary electrophoresis by injecting 12 μl onto an electrophoresis column (60 cm long) at 1 kV for 5 s. The electrophoretic separations were performed at a running voltage of 400 V/cm. α-Fucosidase treatment was done by incubating the sample (10 mM total TMR) with 4 mU almond meal α-fucosidase (Sigma-Aldrich, Canada, Ltd, Misissauga, Ontario) in a total volume of 40 μl of 50 mM sodium citrate buffer, pH 5.0 at 37° C. for 90 hours. Products were isolated and analyzed by capillary electrophoresis as described above.

Results

Cloning and Nucleotide sequence of a H. pylori Fucosyltransferase Gene Three recombinant plasmids, pCRHpfucT3, pBKHpfucT8 and pBKHpfucT31 (FIG. 1) containing the intact or partial sequence of the fucT gene from H. pylori NCTC11639, were obtained as described in the examples above. The nucleotide sequences of these recombinant clones were sequenced from both strands using nested primers. FIG. 2A shows a nucleotide sequence of 1670 bp derived from clone pBKHpfucT31. The sequence is characterized by a major open reading frame (ORF), starting at nucleotide 145 and ending at nucleotide 1356, which was predicted in this region. As shown in FIG. 2A, an unusual sequence feature of this ORF was eight direct repeats of 21 nucleotides. An AA to GG transition at positions 12 and 13 of this repeat has occurred in repeat copies III and VI. An SD sequence, a ribosomal binding site (RSB) in prokaryotes (Shine, J., and Dalgarno, L. (1974) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 71, 1342-1346), precedes the predicted translation initiation codon AUG. In addition, the sequence “ACCATGT”, which is similar to the Kozak's consensus context “ACCATGG” (a common RSB in eukaryotes) (Kozak, M. (1986) Cell 44, 229-292), also exists at the beginning of the ORF. Putative transcription elements including −10 and −35 regions immediately upstream of the ORF, and a stem-loop structure following the stop codon of the ORF, which probably act as a transcription promoter and rho-independent transcription terminator (Platt, T. (1986) Annu. Rev. Biochem. 55, 339-372), were identified. An asymmetric inverted repeat sequence was found, encompassing 18 nucleotides and containing the putative −10 region. Another ORF downstream from the major ORF, in the opposite orientation as indicated in FIG. 2A, encodes the amino acid sequence similar to the corresponding region of the glutamate dehydrogenase identified in Corynebacterium glutamicum (nucleotide sequence accession #S32227). Features of the deduced amino acid sequence of the H. pylori fucT A protein consisting of 464 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 54,429 daltons was predicted from this ORF. A hydropathy profile (FIG. 2B) which was calculated by the method of Kyte and Doolittle ((1982) J. Mol. Biol. 157, 105-132), indicates that the deduced amino acid sequence is primarily hydrophilic, and does not contain a potential transmembrane segment (“transmembrane segment-free”).

Additionally, the predicted protein from the NTCT11639 H. pylori strain carries eight direct repeats of seven amino acid residues proximal to the C-terminus. There is a conservative replacement of valine by isoleucine at position 5 found in repeats III and VI, which results from the corresponding AA to GG mutations as mentioned above. Cloning of a number HpFucT from additional strains of H. pylori have demonstrated that the amino acid sequence is highly conserved (77% identity and 87% similarity) except for the heptad repeats. H. pylori contains two copies of HpFucT. The number of heptad repeats which potentially constitute a leucine zipper (L-Zip) domain arc highly variable among the HpFucTs cloned and range from 11 to 3 in the various strains of H. pylori (FIG. 6). There are some substitutions introduced into the heptad repeats. The repeat unit in UA1182 H. pylori strain is “DDLRVNY” (SEQ ID NO:25), whereas in the UA802 strain the repeat unit is “NNLRADY” (SEQ ID NO:26), (FIG. 6). Searches for sequence similarly shown in FIG. 3B revealed that this region of repeats in HpFucT is significantly similar to domains potentially forming a leucine-zipper structure within several homeobox-leucine zipper proteins (HD-Zip protein) including ATHB-1 ATHB-5, 6 (SEQ ID NO:16), and 7 (SEQ ID NO:18) from Arabidoposis thaliana and tomato (nucleotide sequence accession #x94947) (FIG. 3B). The conserved leucine residues are also colinear to those present in the leucine zipper motif found in a group of basic region-leucine zipper (bZip) proteins in eukaryotes, including yeast, higher plant, animals, and recently, in a bacterium.

Five putative N-linked glycosylation sites are predicted, two of which are proximal to the N-terminus, similar to those identified in mammalian FucTs. However, the remaining three such sites are close to the C-terminus. This latter feature is similar to the sites identified in rabbit and human α1,2-fucosyltransferases (Hitoshi, S., Kusunoki, S., Kanazawa, I., and Tsuji, S. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 17615-17618). Comparison of this polypeptide sequence with other proteins in the protein data bases, using the Blast search program (Version 8.0, Genetic Computing Group, Inc., Madison, Wis.) revealed significant sequence similarity (40-45% identity) to α1-3 and 1-3/1-4 fucosyltransferases from mammalian sources, including human FucT III to VII, bovine FucT III and CFT1 from chicken within an approximately 72 amino acid stretch. As denoted in FIG. 3A, this region is located in the proposed C-terminal catalytic domains of FucTs. Therefore, we designated this gene as HpfucT.

The remaining sequence beyond this conserved region is relatively divergent from that of eukaryotic FucTs. HpFucT appears to lack the transmembrane segment that is common to eukaryotic FucTs, and which is usually located in their N-terminal region. On the other hand, eukaryotic FucTs do not contain the ˜100 aa region encompassing eight “DDLRV(or I)NY” (SEQ ID NO:27) repeats.

Characterization of the HpfucT gene product in E. coli cells To investigate whether or not the predicted HpFucT gene represents a complete locus, a maxicell system was used to detect the protein encoded by this gene. A modified CSR603 strain, which carries a Plac-controlled T7 DNA polymerase gene on the chromosome, was applied for the HpfucT expression. Two recombinant plasmids, pBKHp763fucT38 (carrying the partial HpFucT gene) and pBKHp763fucT39 (carrying the intact HpfucT gene), were constructed (FIG. 1). The HpfucT genes in these two plasmids were controlled by a T7 promoter. Results of expression from these plasmids are shown in FIG. 4. pBKHp763fucT39 gave rise to a specific product of ˜52 kDa (FIG. 4, lane 2) which is in agreement of the predicted molecular mass of 54 kDa. In addition, a protein of ˜41 kDa was produced from pBKHp763fucT38-containing cells (FIG. 4, lane 1). The size of this product is consistent with the predicted 42 kDa of the truncated HpFucT in which the C-terminal 101 amino acids of HpFucT were removed. In contrast, these HpfucT-encoded proteins were not produced in control cells containing either no plasmid or a vector without the insert (FIG. 4, lanes 4 and 3, respectively). Two strong bands at ˜35 kDa and 29 kDa were present in all the samples, indicating that they were encoded by host genes. This evidence demonstrates that the cloned HpfucT represents a complete locus. Biochemical assay of the overproduced HpFucT protein The partial sequence of this bacterial FucT is homologous to the catalytic domain of mammalian FucTs, suggesting that HpFucT is a fucosyltransferase. Therefore, the nature of this enzyme activity was investigated. To delineate the cellular location of the enzyme activity, membrane and cytoplasmic fractions of E. coli cells producing the HpFucT proteins were prepared. The α1,3-HpFucT activity was quantitated using LacNAc—R as an acceptor and GDP-fucose as the donor. Approximately 85% of the total enzyme activity was associated with the membrane fraction containing the intact HpFucT protein expressed from pBKHp763fucT39; whereas the remaining portion was present in the cytoplasmic fraction (Table 1). No detectable activity of either α1,2-FucT or α1,4-FucT was found in the samples tested.

The Triton X-100-solubilized membrane fraction gave rise to slightly higher α1,3-FucT activity than the untreated extract (Table 1). No α1,3-FucT activity was obtained from either the membrane or the cytoplasmic fractions prepared from cells producing the truncated HpFucT protein encoded by pBKHp763fucT38. This result indicated that the C-terminal 101 aa of HpFucT is crucial for fucosyltransferase activity.

The reaction products synthesized by the H. pylori α1,3 fucosyltransferase were characterized using capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection of tetramethylrhodamine (TMR)-labeled acceptors as described in according to a known method. The capillary was 60 cm long (10 μm i.d.), and the samples were injected onto the electrophoresis column at 1 kV for 5 seconds. The running buffer was 10 mM in phosphate, borate, phenylboronic acid, and SDS (pH 9.3); the running voltage was 400 V/cm. The reaction mixture containing the membrane fraction of cells harboring pBKHp763fucT39, GDP-fucose, and LacNAC-TMR produced a new peak (FIG. 5 a, Lewis-X peak), which co-migrated with a synthetic Le^(x)-TMR in the electropherogram (FIG. 5 c, peak 3), indicating that the new peak represents a Le^(x) product synthesized by the bacterial α1,3-fucosyltransferase of this invention. Synthesis of Le^(x) with this enzyme was further tested by digestion of Le^(x) with fucosidase, which cleaved the Le^(x) product and released LacNAc-TMR. Electrophoresis of the reaction mixture demonstrated that the concentration of LacNAc in the reaction mixture increased by 39% (FIG. 5 b, LacNAc peak); whereas the concentration of the Le^(x) product decreased by 36% (FIG. 5 b, Le^(x) peak), showing that the test product was synthesized by fucosyltransferase activity. FIG. 5C shows separation of nine standard TMR oligosaccharides found in mammalian metabolism, LacNAcb- (1), Fucα1→2Galβ1→4GlcNAcβ- (2), Galβ1→4[Fucα1→3] GlcNAcβ- (3), Fucα1→2Galβ1→4[Fucα1→3]GlcNAcβ- (4), GlcNAcβ- (5), linker arm- (6), NeuAcα2→6LacNAcβ- (7), NeuAcα2→3LacNAcβ- (8), NeuAcα2→3Galβ1→4 [Fucα1→3]GlcNAcβ-TMR (9). 

1. A substantially purified transmembrane segment-free polypeptide or fragment thereof having α1,3-fucosyltransferase activity wherein said polypeptide comprises (a) at least 7 heptad repeats wherein each repeat unit is individually DDLR(V or I)NY (SEQ ID NQ:27); and (b) an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO:2.
 2. The polypeptide of claim 1, having a calculated molecular mass of about 54,429 daltons.
 3. The polypeptide of claim 1, having a molecular weight of about 52 kD.
 4. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide is derived from a prokaryote.
 5. The substantially purified transmembrane segment-free α1,3-fucosyltransferase of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide catalyzes the synthesis of Galβ 1-4[Fucα1-3] GlcNAc (Lewis X) or NeuAcα2-3-Galβ 1-4[Fucα1-3]GlcNAc (sialyl Lewis X).
 6. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide is conjugated to other molecules.
 7. The polypeptide of claim 6, wherein the polypeptide is conjugated to polyethylene glycol.
 8. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises a fusion protein.
 9. The polypeptide of claim 8, wherein the fusion protein is an IgFc fusion protein.
 10. The polypeptide of claim 8, wherein the fusion protein further comprises a molecule having a marker function.
 11. The polypeptide of claim 10, wherein the molecule having the marker function comprises an enzyme, a fluorescent protein, or a luminescent protein.
 12. A substantially purified transmembrane segment-free polypeptide or fragment thereof having α1,3-fucosyltransferase activity wherein said polypeptide comprises (a) at least 7 heptad repeats wherein each repeat unit is individually DDLR(V or I)NY (SEQ ID NO:27); and (b) an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:
 1. 13. A substantially purified transmembrane segment-free polypeptide or fragment thereof having α1,3-fucosyltransferase activity wherein said polypeptide comprises (a) at least 7 heptad repeats wherein each repeat unit is individually DDLR(V or I)NY (SEQ ID NO:27); and (b) an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.
 14. A substantially purified transmembrane segment-free polypeptide or fragment thereof having α1,3-fucosyltransferase activity wherein said polypeptide comprises (a) at least 7 heptad repeats wherein each repeat unit is individually DDLR(V or I)NY (SEQ ID NO:27); and (b) an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:7.
 15. A substantially purified polypeptide comprising a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, or a fragment thereof having α1,3-fucosyltransferase activity.
 16. A substantially purified polypeptide consisting of a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.
 17. A substantially purified polypeptide comprising a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, or a fragment thereof having α1,3-fucosyltransferase activity.
 18. A substantially purified polypeptide consisting of a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.
 19. A substantially purified polypeptide comprising a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, or a fragment thereof having α1,3-fucosyltransferase activity.
 20. A substantially purified polypeptide consisting of a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:3.
 21. A substantially purified polypeptide comprising a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:7, or a fragment thereof having α1,3-fucosyltransferase activity.
 22. A substantially purified polypeptide consisting of a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:7. 